Ars Asks: We’ve got some UltraEverDry—what should we put it on?

A little under a month ago, we posted about UltraEverDry, a "revolutionary super hydrophobic coating that repels water and refined oils using nanotechnology," according to the manufacturer. The post was accompanied by a pretty amazing video of the stuff in action. The coating appears to laugh at water, oil, mud, and dirt, causing liquids of all types to cascade quickly off all kinds of different objects and surfaces.

We were intrigued, and so were you, judging by the comments on our last post. The video was done in prime infomercial style—complete with some upbeat synth-y elevator music—but it appeared to demonstrate a fascinating product. The UltraEverDry coating was clearly both hydrophobic (able to repel water) and oleophobic (able to repel oils). We were left wanting to know a lot more about UltraEverDry. What could we apply it to? How well does it work, really? Can I apply it to my dog? Will it make my dog able to repel water? (Note: Just kidding! I'd never spray UltraEverDry on my dog because I don't have a dog. However, my neighbor has a dog. Hmmmm.)

Pet applications aside, we've acquired a stash of UltraEverDry and it's sitting here next to me, awaiting its destiny. We turn to you, dear readers: what should we spray it on?

Before you go all crazy with suggestions, some rules: all joking aside, I'm not going to spray this on any living creatures, no matter how fun it might be to see how well a superhydrophobic goldfish is able to get on. I'm also not going to spray it on anything valuable that I personally own—it's not going on my car or my laptop or phone, though I've got an old iPhone 3GS that I absolutely plan to sacrifice to the nanotech gods. I also won't be consuming anything I spray it on, so suggestions I make a grilled cheese sandwich, coat it with UltraEverDry, and then eat it will be ignored.

However, that aside, I'm happy to apply this stuff to anything reasonable you guys can think up and that I can acquire without too much effort and without Ken freaking out about my March expense report (so, no "BUY A CHEAP USED CAR AND TREAT IT AND THEN JUMP IT OFF A BRIDGE INTO A LAKE," even though that would kick ass).

Bring on the suggestions, guys. What should we transform into a nanotech-coated water repellant superobject? We'll assemble the results together in a video once the testing is complete!

Promoted Comments

Car tires. I'm interested if this enhances the hydroplane effect or discourages it.

You probably want to do it on a car you aren't actually driving, then follow at a distance and observe.

Unfortunately, this isn't mythbusters. I don't have access to a track or other closed course where this would be safe to test. For that matter, no one I know has a disposable car we can use as a test vehicle.

370 Reader Comments

I'd like to see this used on a strip of leather, followed by some flexing/abrasion testing. I doubt it would hold up well on boots, but it might have uses for leather furniture, car interiors, and even some hats. Flammability would definitely be a concern, as has been noted.

coat RC boat and RC airplane to test whether coating improves speed performance (by means to reducing resistance to water or to air). Test before and after, get some help from RC modeling forums, so you don't need to build and pilot the thing yourself! They are sure to appreciate the test!

This has real-world applications. Would coating the hull of a ship reduce 'drag' and make it more fuel efficient?

Edit : how long does the coating last? Does it wear off over time or with friction? Would a coated item pollute the water it sits in?

I'd be curious to see it on the lens of my glasses. I wonder if it would affect refraction in any way. The second thing is more of a test, but I'd love to see a few of the gel kernels that are in super absorbent diapers coated with the stuff and then dropped in water...

Ok, just read a comment wear you say no to the being able to coat glasses, so that part is answered. I'd love the day when I no longer have to worry about fingerprints and water marks on my lenses, though.

To extend the slip-n-slide comment, what I'm really interested in is the interaction with this and friction on wet surfaces. My guess is that you will not be able to slip well on a slip and slide that's coated with this, even with water pouring onto the slide.

If you were to do it full scale, it could be an excellent jackass-style stunt to do this to a waterslide or slip and slide and get someone to barrel onto it at full speed. Ouch.

For practical testing purposes, I'd imagine a trip to a helpful car wreckers would let you test safely without risking your own wheels...

This was my first thought, would it keep an alloy wheel clean? Buying a spare wheel, treating it and then not washing the car for a few months would be an interesting test. Probably brake dust would still collect but would a blast with a hose clean it effectively?

If you're able to coat standard paper with this maybe you can fold a little paper boat with it and throw it into a public fountain for a laugh.

The video shows things like work gloves, so presumably it's safe for skin contact after it dries. I'm quite interested in seeing how a pair of overalls would benefit from treatment, do you know any mechanics would would like to shop test something like that?

Along the lines of testing spray paint with this could you try sharpies and dry erase marker vandalism as well?

I've been thinking it would be great on bathroom mirrors or shower doors. It could prevent limescale buildup. Maybe even stop them getting steamy. You wouldn't touch the surface much, so minimal danger of exposure. Also might last longer.

Well, I already see that workboots were done in the commercial. I'd coat my Timberlands (tops and soles/treads) in a heartbeat with that stuff.

Other stuff, I'd say your windshield of a car, an umbrella. Your GLASSES! (Would this also repel condensation?) The inside of gutters and gutter drains.

The commercial had a center square of glass that was untreated, with the frame edge being treated and the water kind of huddling in the center. How much water could you pile up, keeping the surface tension like that? I'd be interested in seeing that as an experiment. And a regular water glass coated with that on the inside - what happens when you pour water into the glass? How much does the water freak out in a trapped container?

The idea of reducing drag on something moving through water is intriguing! The hull of a boat is what really makes me wonder but it says it won't work well if its constantly submerged... But still, if it could be tested on two toy boats or pool torpedoes I would love to see the results!

The slip in slide seems funny but I imagine the person will just interact with the plastic as if there wasn't any water, or much less water.

well pretty much the inside of anything transparent would look interesting. would be interesting to know how much pressure it would take for the water to make contact with the surface despite the coating.

A white tuxedo. Actually, go the whole hog with coated white shoes, socks, shirt and bow tie, then go running through mud and see how respectable you look at the end. If you want the ultimate test, then do it on the way to an important formal event and see if you're allowed in.

Finally - how about a re-usable nappy? Usually these are way too gross to actually use in practice. But suppose you could basically remove the nappy and tip the contents down the bin... that could make a lot of mothers happy.

I thought of this also.

In the days before the modern disposable, nappies were a towelling cloth that was secured with safety pins. When it was time to change the nappy, the cloth was then laundered.

Some people choose to use this method today, believing that the disposable nappy is a massive landfill problem.And of course cloth nappies are still in use in many poorer countries where disposable nappies are not available or are too expensive. If this product could make cloth nappies more hygienic and easier, the health/infection benefits could be huge.

Car tires. I'm interested if this enhances the hydroplane effect or discourages it.

You probably want to do it on a car you aren't actually driving, then follow at a distance and observe.

Unfortunately, this isn't mythbusters. I don't have access to a track or other closed course where this would be safe to test. For that matter, no one I know has a disposable car we can use as a test vehicle.

Skis or a snowboard would be useless--again, I'm in Houston. There is no snow within a full day's drive in any direction. Hell, it's going to be 80F on Monday here.

Not sure if a model plane or a quadricopter would really do anything--what would be the point? Superhydrophibicity and oleophobicity shouldn't have any effect at all on air resistance--certainly nothing that I could measure by eyeballing it. I don't have a radar or laser speed gun to perform precise measurements.

Lee Hutchinson / Lee is the Senior Reviews Editor at Ars and is responsible for the product news and reviews section. He also knows stuff about enterprise storage, security, and manned space flight. Lee is based in Houston, TX.